Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-03
Diamonds: Their Origin, Formation
and Uses.

Diamonds: Their Origin, Formation,
and Uses.
Diamonds have been objects of inter-
est both to the ancients rs well as they
are at present to all classes, but more
especially to scientists and savants. to
whom, even up to this present age, they
are mystery. as to their origin or for
nation. Though known TO be COM
posed of pure carbon, Pliny. as well as
other ancient writers, seems to have
been ignorant rs to their characteristics,
being imbued with more superstitious
ideas than true practical knowledge
or estimate of their powers of resistance.
believing they could only be crushed by
previous bath of goats blood. Per-
slams give special veneration to the dia-
mond, owing to their belief that they
fell from the heavens ut the earliest
creation of the world. Others attribute
them to be of celestial origin, as aerol-
ties, possessing electric light; others,
again, believe them of vegetable origin.
as some are found with water cavities.
also vegetable as well as animal matter
embedded in them. Workers in them
seem to have more true and practical
knowledge of them, and feel convinced
they are more of a volcanic origin. and
their surmises may be correct, by tho
recent discovery in South Africa, where
most of the supply is derived from the
bed or mouth of an exhausted crater.
Also in the discovery, within the past
half century, of its sister morphonic
gem, called carbonate" which to an
inexperienced eye Gin some stages of its
formation) has the outward appearance
of crystals of emery. and when broken
looks like fractured hardened steel;
again, in other stages the appearance
of porous lava; but even to the worker.
as well as the scientist, their progress
sive age of formation still remains a
mystery. 1t is impossible 10 say wheth-
er the above is an old or young dia-
mond, being an opaque combination of
minute gray crystals, compressed to-
gether by some natural force into such
dense form and temper as to make its
sister lamellar and transparent gem
subject to its attrition, and an invalu-
able adjunct in the mechanic arts.
Again, we see the diamond in its transit
ton state of formation from carbonate
to that of granular lamellar diamond
flakes, and then progressing Gf one
may presume to SO call iO into the
opaque carbonacul ar form called borts
Oike rough molten balls of glass;. and
when broken furnish fibrous splinters
like asbestos. which are used for drill
ing holes in jewels, etc. Finally, they
verge into the lamellar translucent and
transparent state, having cleavage
like mica, of geometrical forms. Some
of these crystals are formed with other
small octahedron diamonds embedded
IN the side facets. As TO the uses of the
! diamond in various ages and by diller
ent nations, they are undoubtedly pre-
| historic. and might be classed in their
uses among the stone age. 1t has been
conceded by modern savants that they
must have been used In the days of the
Pharaohs for something besides amulets
| At meeting of the Anthropological In
stitu;e of London, not long since. by
! reading before them, Mr.. w. Nj. Flinders
had collected evidence in n tomb at
! Gizeh that tools armed with jewels had
been used in the form of solid or tubular
| drills, as well as saws.
! The unfinished obelisl at the Egyp-
tan quarries, which has been lying
| there for over 1000 years, has contlnu-
Gus spiral grooves, being of uniform
depth. showing the cutting edge of the
tool was not in any wise impaired. Dia-
monds had different names in various
ages, among nations and tribes. In tho
days of Solomon, .'samer" or ''shamer,"
after the miraculous stone-working
worm of that name; by the Egyptians,
auerchlis or chalazias; Grecian, adamas
or adamantine; and by the Jews.
iahaomc, etc. Thus lost arts are being
restored to us by scientific research.
and in recent years as well rs the pres
ent We now see the diamond adver-
! tised in multitudinous branches Of arts.
! They have for some time been grow
ing rapidly in favor for trimming or
truing chilled iron, paper calender and
porcelain rolls. emery wheels, saving
and trimming stone, boring rock for
tunneling and prospecting mines. etc.